[SkywalkerAC]

The Raptors' season gets underway pretty quick here but I think we'll all be watching to see what Ukic can do now that he's on a (very) good team. This is the place to find and post updates and generally discuss how he's doing over there. This is our first real experience with this kind of foreign development, as I don't think Ramon really counts, so it should be very interesting.

Will he start? Could he average more assists than Jose last season? Will Tau Ceramica be a dominant team? We'll start finding out come November 2.

Here's Tau's Euroleague site:
http://www.euroleague.net/teams/teamCard.jsp?id=BAS

I heard that they may have already played some games? Does anyone know more about this?

Go Roko!

[speedythief]

Easy to forget about Ukic. When you look at the previews and outlooks being written on the future of the Raptors, and even some of the articles by the esteemed Toronto sports media, Ukic is not mentioned most of the time. Almost like he's skipped our team by not signing this year.

If Ukic is half as exciting a player as everyone seems to think he is he will be like getting an extra first-round draft pick when he comes over (hopefully sooner than later).

[SkywalkerAC]

Here's a translated page of a recent victory:
http://translate.google.com/translat...LG:en%26sa%3DG

Translation isn't so good.


Looks like Ukic had 6 points.

Tau's ACB stats:
http://www.acb.com/stsacum.php?cod_e...cod_edicion=50

[SkywalkerAC]

Looks like he's averaging 5.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in two games. Not a bad start.

[charlz]

roko was nice in the euros - he is like a shooting guard with sic handles - all kinds of talent.

[billfindlay10]

I am looking forward tothis thread.....I hope we all try to keep it alive!

[SkywalkerAC]

Roko's first Euroleague game:

http://www.euroleague.net/stats/stat...da=1&partido=2

Apparently should have had a few more assists but teammates couldn't finish.

[billfindlay10]

Keep the links coming....not a great first game, but he is still getting to know his new team.

[bigbabyjesus]

Apparently he has played great defense with TAU. Great to hear.

He has to get used to playing with Tiago Splitter, who will be his teammate when he decides to come to Toronto.

[SkywalkerAC]

One nice thing about Roko with Tau is that he's not play/on the road almost every day. That gives a him a lot of time to work on his skills (ie perimeter jumper) and hit the gym. I know that isn't nearly as much pressure to hit the weights but he knows it's a weakness of his game, especially when it comes to the NBA. They must have pretty good facilities in Barcelona and there's at least one other guy on his team preparing for the NBA that needs to add strength. Shooting is the one area I think we'll see a ton of improvement- by the time he comes over he should be money from 3.

[SkywalkerAC]

Tau vs Zalgiris tomorrow.

[Benis007]

Originally Posted by charlz

roko was nice in the euros - he is like a shooting guard with sic handles - all kinds of talent.

http://nbadraft.net/profiles/roko-leniukic.asp

NBA Comparison: Sleepy Floyd

A player with shocking talent ... Mature with great experience over the course of his career ... He's got a rare talent .. Has the size to play the shooting guard position, but handles the point position very well ... Really needs the ball in his hands to be most effective ... Still lacks physical strangth ... He has good leaping ability, but nothing that leaves your mouth open ... He is most impressive with the ball in his hands dribbling and creating ... Has great body control, changes direction, very fluid athlete ... Plays with extreme confidence and excels in finding teammates off the dribble drive ... Does not usually take the ball all the way to the basket, as his body is not built for constant punishment ...

Weaknesses If the ball is not in his hands, he has a tough time having a factor in the game ... Still lacks consistency from 3 point range, but has good mechanics and room for improvement ... Sometimes appears to lose his shooting range late in games, maybe due to lack of physical strength ... Still can be prone to turnovers and wild play leading to traveling calls ... Must improve his defensive desire and intensity ...
Cristian Biagini
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Strengths: Plays very fundamental. Takes over games, as he did at Manheim in the 2002 Junior Championships. He's a quick player with great control of the ball, a good distributor, doesn't make a lot of mistakes. A good rebounder for a PG who's never afraid to shoot when left alone. Also a very good penatrator, if his shot is failing, watch out! He has a great future.

Weaknesses: He's a little bit of a streaky shooter. Very slender now, must build his strength. Could use some work on defense but is solid, Just needs to continue to develop.

Notes: He reminds of Tony Parker, not quite as steady a shooter as Parker is but is a little better rebounder, but otherwise there are a lot of similarities. Tony Parker was the first European point guard to succeed in the NBA. Because of Parker, European point guards now feel they can have the same success. Probably will look to play a few years at the top level in Europe before entering the NBA draft.

-Uros Velkavrh
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Strengths: A high-energy point guard. Ukic is a talent on the rise, athletic, with unrivalled ball handling, extremely quick (similar to the Road Runner’s quickness…) that takes opponents of the dribble and gets fearlessly to the hole. Imagine he is a high school basketball player. He is solid but inconsistent. He is the perfect fit for full court pressing defenses, seems to have inhexaustible stamina. Goes for the rebound, has long arms and a wingspan of a 6-6 player that enable him to steal the ball.

Weaknesses: His game lacks maturity, he isn’t a coach on the floor but this is justified by his age. He lacks the drive n’ dish game, seems to be selfish. His 3 point shooting accuracy is questionable. His body is weak, needs some pounds of muscle, in order to “survive” in the next level.

-Dimitris Armadoros

Don't mean to beat a dead horse to death but I see Roko as a "combo" guard. From the little I have seen and read on him I think he needs to work on his outside shot. He's got the handles to play the 1, and the rebounding and size to run and gun at the 3.

My call.. hit the gym, work on your shot... see you in 2 seasons.

PG - Calderon
SG - Roko
SF - Joey
PF - Charlie
C - Bosh

Kinda reminds me of what the Chicago Bulls did last year with their lineup. (Though they had more size at Centre.

[SkywalkerAC]

Originally Posted by Benis007

http://nbadraft.net/profiles/roko-leniukic.asp

NBA Comparison: Sleepy Floyd



Don't mean to beat a dead horse to death but I see Roko as a "combo" guard. From the little I have seen and read on him I think he needs to work on his outside shot. He's got the handles to play the 1, and the rebounding and size to run and gun at the 3.

My call.. hit the gym, work on your shot... see you in 2 seasons.

PG - Calderon
SG - Roko
SF - Joey
PF - Charlie
C - Bosh

Kinda reminds me of what the Chicago Bulls did last year with their lineup. (Though they had more size at Centre.

I've heard that he's MUCH more a point guard than a shooting guard or combo guard. Perhaps he'll get a little experience playing off the ball with Tau but I think he'll get most of his time at the 1. That doesn't mean we can't run a two point guard offense of course and he certainly does need to get stronger. Defending NBA shooting guards would be a nightmare for him at this point.